A scrutiny of records by an audit team comprising regional higher education officer (RHO), Lucknow and district inspector of schools ( DIOS), Ghazipur found that there has been a 'wasteful expenditure' of nearly Rs 1.15 crore towards teachers payment and allowances. Teachers appointed for physical education (PE) and sports were getting salaries in the absence of any course curriculum.

The higher education department, in this regard, has issued a circular to the Lucknow University asking them about the present status of physical education syllabus. UP Higher Education Service Commission in November 2006 made 14 appointments (13 in Lucknow and 1 in Ghazipur) in government-aided and government colleges, where physical education as a subject at undergraduate level could not be introduced.

The issue came to light, when the audit team on their visit to the colleges (in January) found that PE teachers skipped theory classes in the absence of syllabus. They then recommended that these posts should be scrapped, as no teaching took place since 2006.

University spokesperson Prof S K Dwivedi said "The course curriculum for physical education as a subject in bachelors is already prepared and admissions to the course is open for the students from this academic session.'' He added that the university is not concerned, as to why PE teachers were allowed to take salary when the course did not exist.

While on one hand, the university blamed the colleges for paying them salary, the colleges held LU responsible for not preparing the course curriculum. Lucknow University Associated Colleges Teachers' Association (LUACTA) pointed fingers on the state government for incomplete preparations to introduce the course.

Former LUACTA president Moulindu Mishra said, "The state government introduced physical education and sports as a subject in curriculum at degree level, so that the participants in national and international sports events from UP will increase.

The purpose was an overall development by including five sports in the colleges. But the director of sports was inept in ensuring sports ground in all government-aided colleges.

With half preparations, there is no point in blaming the teachers. Therefore, the payment made to the teachers cannot be termed as wasteful expenditure." While the blame game continued, RHO, SA Ali tried to make up for the teachers.

"All these years, the teachers are engaged in activities like organising annual function, annual sports meet, NCC, Rovers Ranger, and other extra co-curricular activities. They continued taking practical sessions, if not theory classes."